Renae Smith is a vegetarian food educator, cook & host.

"Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living, purely by physical effect on the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind." - Albert Einstein.

In late 2013, with encouragement from daughters Kyah and Paris, Renae became a contestant on Masterchef Australia, Series 6 in 2014. She placed 8th overall and became known for her love of healthy cooking and vegetarian food. Labelled the “Mystery Box Queen,” Renae’s ability to create dishes full of flavour, with only minimal ingredients, earned the judges’ praise.

Through Masterchef, Renae gained a strong following in India, a country she considers a second home. In addition to her appearances across India, Sri Lanka and Singapore, Renae has also appeared at several Good Food Shows in India and South Africa.

Renae is regularly consulted in Australia regarding vegetarian and vegan cuisine and writes freelance food articles for many online publications. She is experienced in event hosting, catering and demonstrations, both live and filmed. She is an ambassador for Meat-Free Monday; The Healthy Tuckshop Revolution; Barnardos Australia; and Variety – The Children’s Charity.

Renae has a very strong social media presence with an Australian and international audience, with high engagement figures across her posts. As an influencer, she’s promoted Comvita Australia; Australian Farmers Direct; BFree Wraps; Empower Wellness; The Hunger Project; Philips Appliances; Foodora; Deliveroo; Chobani Yoghurt; and Eat Fit Food.

Renae is currently in pre-production for a TV series, Eat Grow Love, for the South African and international markets with Oxyg3n Media.

Renae's recipes are featured in the Dish Cookbook in collaboration with Australia's top chefs, with proceeds going to the Starlight Children's Foundation.

Renae shares her time between Australia, France and the United Kingdom and is the Director of a specialised PR agency for the hospitality industry, The Atticism.